Middle East: German delegation meets Syria's HTS
The development from Berlin comes after similar moves from the UK and the EU. Plus, CIA Director Bill Burns is expected in Doha for negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. DW has the latest.

Germany is the latest in a series of countries seeking to re-establish ties with Syria.

The EU has announced it will reopen its representation in Damascus.

Meanwhile, top officials from the US, Egypt and Qatar say they are making progress toward a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza.

This is a rundown of developments from Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza and other parts of the Middle East on December 18, 2024:

 Skip next section German opposition wants to raise topic of Syrian repatriation with new regime4 hours ago4 hours agoGerman opposition wants to raise topic of Syrian repatriation with new regime

Germany's conservative opposition has called for the topic of repatriation for Syrian asylum seekers in Germany to be discussed in any further talks with the new transitional government in Syria.

Alexander Dobrindt, parliamentary leader for the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said it was "essential that the question of migration and repatriation be connected to any possible development aid."

"When the reason to flee no longer exists, a return must be possible," Dobrindt said, adding that his party would judge any further government communication with the new Syrian regime "based on whether such discussions feature the issue of migration or whether it's only about aid."

Both the German Foreign and Interior Ministries have said it is too early to discuss the repatriation of Syrian refugees before the situation in their homeland has stabilized.

"Let's not jump to step five before we've completed step one," said a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, pointing out that there were still issues concerning the "elementary provision of public services" in Syria and that fighting continued in some areas of the country.

"As such, I believe that the most important question is how to stabilize Syria," the spokesman said.

"Only then," concurred an Interior Ministry colleague, "will there be a clear possibility for people who don't have permission to reside in Germany to return to Syria, especially criminals who we of course want to deport."

After German diplomats held initial talks with Syria's new transitional government on Tuesday (see below), the German Foreign Ministry has said it is considering if and when the German embassy in Damascus could be reopened.

"We are currently considering all options as to when we can reestablish a presence in Damascus and to what extent," said a spokesman in Berlin on Wednesday, but did not specify a time frame.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the German Justice Ministry said the government was also considering whether or not to continue classifying Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who led the overthrow of former President Bashar Assad, as a terrorist organization.

https://www.dw.com/en/middle-east-german-delegation-meets-syrias-hts/live-71088507

 

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